Loss of Uncoupling Protein 3 Attenuates Western Diet-Induced Obesity, Systemic Inflammation, and Insulin Resistance in Rats

Authors

Tyler M Lomax
Sadia Ashraf
Gizem Yilmaz
Romain Harmancey

Publication Date

9-1-2020

Journal

Obesity

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) is a mitochondrial carrier related to fatty acid metabolism. Although gene variants of UCP3 are associated with human obesity, their contribution to increased adiposity remains unclear. This study investigated the impact that loss of UCP3 has on diet-induced obesity in rats.

METHODS: Male UCP3 knockout rats (ucp3

RESULTS: Loss of UCP3 decreased fat mass gain, white adipocytes size, and systemic inflammation. The ucp3

CONCLUSIONS: Loss of UCP3 partially protects rats from diet-induced obesity. This phenotype is related to induction of a compensatory antioxidant mechanism and prevention of iBAT whitening.

Keywords

Adipose Tissue, Brown, Animals, Diet, Western, Inflammation, Insulin Resistance, Male, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Uncoupling Protein 3